Chapter 004
Chapter 4: Enemies Meet
Qiao Sheng froze and looked around, wary. The broken walls only let in the roaring wind. No one, not even a ghost, was in sight: “Xia Meng Yan, don’t waste your effort. No one will come to save you.”
Xia Meng Yan set her hand on her belly and quietly took a few steps back.
In the next blink, a man walked out of the darkness. He was tall and powerfully built. His sharp gaze swept over everyone and stopped on Qiao Sheng.
A chill ran up their backs. Seeing the figure at the door, they all flinched.
“Qiao Sheng, long time no see,” the newcomer said as he swung his long arm. The short blade in his hand buried itself in the doorframe.
Qiao Sheng turned ashen, his voice shaking: “W-Wang Mang, how are you still alive?”
Wang Mang yanked the knife free. Chips flew as the blade spun in his grip: “If trash like you can live, why should I die?”
Xia Meng Yan’s lips curled coldly. Qiao Sheng dying by Wang Mang’s hand would be no injustice.
In her last life, when Huo Ying Zi had just entered the army and wanted quick fame, she used the excuse of “pacifying internal trouble” to hunt bandits everywhere. Back then Qiao Sheng was only a squad leader. He lacked skill but had big ambitions. After greasing palms, he entered Huo Ying Zi’s command and, by fawning, soon became her right hand.
Wang Mang’s mountain stronghold kept to itself and did not disturb the people. When they robbed, they targeted corrupt officials. But to Qiao Sheng, they looked like easy prey.
Under his instigation, Huo Ying Zi led men to burn the stronghold.
Wang Mang’s sister led the survivors out the back mountain, only to run into Qiao Sheng.
Lust rose in Qiao Sheng’s heart. He assaulted her in front of everyone. When Wang Mang arrived, Qiao Sheng was fastening his pants and bragging to his men.
People restrained Wang Mang, and he escaped death only then.
From that day, Wang Mang’s sister woke up mad. Wang Mang felt deep guilt and waited for a chance to cut Qiao Sheng to pieces.
Huo Ying Zi wanted to be a hero among women? Fine. Xia Meng Yan would help her.
Once Qiao Sheng and his men died, let’s see how she explained it to the army officers.
The thugs had come thinking they would fool around as usual, so they had not brought proper weapons.
Now, facing the knife in Wang Mang’s hand, Qiao Sheng backed away in terror: “If you kill us, Marshal Huo won’t let you go.”
“Enough talk,” said Wang Mang, and his blade cut through the air without a hint of hesitation.
Xia Meng Yan turned her back. As screams filled the ruined hall, she stroked her belly and murmured softly: “Baby, don’t be afraid. They are bad men. We won’t be afraid. Good…”
A quarter hour later, all was quiet behind her.
She glanced over at the bodies on the floor, her face calm: “Good work, bandit chief.”
Wang Mang drove his knife down once more into Qiao Sheng. Blood splashed his face. He wiped it away without care: “Miss Xia, you must do what you promised me.”
“Of course,” said Xia Meng Yan. She understood the warning: if she broke her word, she would end up like Qiao Sheng.
In her last life, she had heard Lin Ye Lan mention Wang Mang. He was brave and clever, but his birth was low. After killing a clerk’s son, he fled to the mountains.
Xia Meng Yan chose to pull him to her side: “Divine Physician Luo owes the Xia family a favor. If your sister comes with me to the capital, once my father writes a letter, Divine Physician Luo will treat her.”
“I’ll trust you for now,” said Wang Mang, sheathing the knife. He glanced at Qiao Sheng’s corpse. “I don’t like owing favors. I will handle the rest. Then we are even.”
“Good,” said Xia Meng Yan. She did not spell out her plan. With Wang Mang’s sister with her, she was sure he would come find her.
She gave a few quick instructions and left the temple at once.
After she was gone, several men stepped from the dark: “Boss, that woman is the wife of Marquis Ping’an. What if she sells us out?”
“I have no choice,” Wang Mang said. The cold on his face faded into weariness. “Yue’er’s sickness cannot wait.”
“But Yue’er…”
“I asked around. Divine Physician Luo really does owe the Xia family a favor,” Wang Mang cut him off, looking into the black forest. “If we die, fine. But our families cannot suffer. Let your sister go to the capital with Yue’er. For the other women and children, I will think of something.”
“Get to work,” he ordered.
Not long after Xia Meng Yan left the temple, Guard Song caught up to her: “My lady, the Marquis’s men are headed this way.”
“Move,” said Xia Meng Yan, her eyes turning cold.
Chun Yue woke to find herself in the carriage. Remembering her mistress’s orders, she calmed her heart, straightened her clothes, and stood properly beside the door.
The messy drumming of hooves drew near. Chun Yue turned and saw Lin Ye Lan on horseback.
“Where is Madam?” Lin Ye Lan swung down and came toward her: “There must be a limit to this. This is the Northern Fortress. Bandits are rampant. If something happens, how will I answer to my father-in-law?”
“My lady…” Chun Yue started to speak, but Lin Ye Lan pushed her aside and yanked up the curtain. Seeing the empty interior, he sneered: “Where is she?”
“My lady went to relieve herself,” said Chun Yue.
“Relieve herself?” Lin Ye Lan laughed coldly: “You are her personal maid yet you are not there to attend her. Do you take me for a fool? Tell the truth.”
“She will be back soon,” Chun Yue said firmly. “If you don’t believe me, you can wait.”
“Men, search the woods,” Lin Ye Lan ordered.
“Yes,” the soldiers replied, charging into the trees.
Chun Yue stamped her foot and said bluntly: “Marquis, my lady is in the woods. If you send men in after her, are you not afraid of ruining her reputation?”
Lin Ye Lan looked scornful: “Even if her reputation is ruined, she asked for it.”
Chun Yue wanted to open his chest and see if his heart was black. Even if he did not like her lady, he should not humiliate her like this.
“Marquis, there is no one in the woods,” a soldier reported soon after.
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Lin Ye Lan glanced at Chun Yue and raised his voice: “Listen up. Madam has been taken by bandits. Search for her.”
“Yes,” the soldiers answered and spread out to comb the area.
Chun Yue ground her teeth: “How does it help you to smear my lady like this, Marquis?”
She had seen fools before, but never someone who would damage his own honor. Her lady was still the marchioness. If her name was ruined, what face would the marquis have?
Lin Ye Lan did not care. In his mind, everything was under control. After the soldiers rescued Xia Meng Yan, he would scold her sternly and she would surely obey him.
If not for the Xia family’s connections at court, he would not bother coaxing Xia Meng Yan at all. She was delicate, dramatic, and always made trouble.
He touched the cuff of his sleeve. The bamboo embroidered there was crooked, the stitches like little worms, but to him it was just right.
“Marquis, bad news,” a soldier ran up to report. “We found several bodies in a ruined temple nearby. I recognize one of them. It is Qiao Sheng under General Huo.”
“What?” Lin Ye Lan’s face changed. He knew Qiao Sheng, who hovered around Huo Ying Zi like a fly. How could he be dead in a ruined temple?
Before he could ask more, another man ran up: “Marquis, it’s bad. The villagers have blocked our men at the temple and won’t let them leave.”
“Go,” Lin Ye Lan barked, leading his men toward the temple with force.
Chun Yue stood to the side and heard every word. She had no wish to see the commotion. She only wanted to find her lady as soon as possible.
“Village chief, I was right. They are the Huo family’s soldiers,” a villager said angrily, pointing at the men outside the temple. “They shamed my sister and beat my mother. If not for a kind person’s help, my sister and mother would be dead. They must give us an explanation.”
The village chief looked the soldiers up and down, then pointed toward the bodies inside the temple: “Are you with those men in there?”
The soldiers outside gripped their long swords and gathered power to strike: “So what if we are? If you dare kill soldiers of the court, you are seeking death.”